Jamaica has a long and deep history of the Chinese being an integral part of our society; from indentured labourers to replace Africans on the sugar plantations after the emancipation of slavery, to the beginning of their commercial activities as shopkeepers in villages throughout every nook and cranny of our country, to their contributions in other enterprises and endeavours including the restaurant business, the music industry, education, manufacturing, government and politics.

May Wong, coming all the way from Hong Kong, was our guest here at Neita's Nest this week. She wanted to know where she could go to experience Chinese New Year celebrations in Jamaica. Unfortunately, the main celebration, The Annual Spring Festival Garden Party took place the Sunday before she arrived, but I did direct her to the Chinese Benevolent Association of Jamaica for more information, while sharing with her what I know of the history of the Chinese in Jamaica.

Of course, I pulled from our home library, Easton Lee's book of poems, "From Behind the Counter" to authenticate for her some of the early history. We talked about the contributions of the Chinese Embassy to Jamaica through the Confucious Institute at the University of the West Indies' Mona Campus here in Kingston, the lovely new highway from the Norman Manley International Airport, the controversial Chinese Garden being built in our Royal Hope Botanical Gardens, as well as the projected development of Goat Islands.

As I went off to sleep that evening, I wondered whether further contributions could not be in the area of a sustained public relations awareness campaign on the rich history and culture of the Chinese in Jamaica. highlighting, for example, their contribution to the development of Jamaican music, as was featured at Tribute to the Greats by Kingsley Goodison last year, and of course, staging a festival to take place in the streets in which we can all celebrate Chinese New Year.

Perhaps when our Chinese Garden is complete.

Here is what Fodor'sTravel has to say about how it is done in other countries:

You can call it the Spring Festival, Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year but they all refer to the same thing: one of the world’s biggest annual celebrations. In cities across the globe, colorful and joyous spectacles featuring parades, fireworks and cultural performance ring in the start of a new year according to the traditional Chinese lunar calendar. In 2015, Chinese New Year falls on Thursday, February 19, but many places will host parades and festivals over the weekend, with some parties continuing through the end of the month. With their unique traditions and crowd-pleasing festivities, these celebrations stand out from the rest, so get ready to eat some dumplings for good luck and welcome the Year of the Sheep.

So, May, thanks for reminding us that this is Chinese New Year, and to you and all our former Neita's Nest guests who have visited from China, as well as those who visit us online... HappyChineseNew Year!